tax rates in a heartbeat if i could get the clinton spending rates. but neither side wants to talk about spending. it's not a deal to me if they're not going to talk about spending. same tax rates. >> i agree with you, eric. i think you're right. i wrote about that, too. but i think the president now, he's sort of signaled that he may be looking for some wiggle room here. later this afternoon he said that he wanted the tax rate cut now and he would be happy to look at lowering them again in a bigger package, but i agree with you. i think we have to get serious about these spending cuts. i just applied for social security and i want mine. >> all right. rich, appreciate it. eric, thanks. let us know what you think. follow me on twitter. @andersoncooper. i'm tweeting tonight. >>> just ahead, 21 months after bashir al assad began killing his own people, the fighting is raging in syria. the rest of the world may finally be convinced things are critical there. senator john mccain is asking what took so long. we'll tell you about what just changed. more from